Rally in support of political prisoner Emir-Usein Kuku held in Moscow

Participants came with posters calling for the release of a human rights defender

MOSCOW (QHA) -

On December 4, in Moscow, a few people went to a rally in support of the political prisoner of the Kremlin, the Crimean human rights activist, defendant in the fabricated "Yalta case" of Hizb ut-Tahrir Emir-Usein Kuku, activist Vera Lavreshin informed on her Facebook page.

“Emir-Usein Kuku is a Crimean human rights activist who faces up to 25 years of imprisonment for his human rights activities due to occupation authorities. He did not commit any crimes and anything like a crime. And we are very glad that Amnesty International has organized a global flash mob in support of Emir-Usein," she wrote.

Participants came with posters, which read: "Emir-Usein Kuku is a human rights activist, not a terrorist", "Freedom to Emir-Usein Kuku".

QHA reported that the Rostov District Military Court held an off-site meeting on December 4 in the premises of the Kremlin-controlled Crimean Garrison Court. Individuals involved in "Yalta case" of Hizb ut-Tahrir were left in custody until May 27, 2017. In addition, Emir-Usein Kuku and other detainees will be transferred from Crimea to Rostov, Russian Federation.

The prosecutor demanded an extension of the detention term of Emir-Usein Kuku for another 6 months. Meanwhile, the Kuku's lawyer requested for a measure of restraint in the form of a house arrest over the lack of lawful basis for holding Emir-Usein Kuku in custody.

Emir-Usein Kuku was charged by the occupation authorities of Crimea under Article 278 of the Criminal Code ("Forcible seizure of power or forced restraint of power").

On February 11, 2016, a wave of searches in the houses of Crimean Muslims began in the Crimea aiming to portray them as "terrorists." Eight of the twelve detainees were released. Emir-Usein Kuku, Vadim Syruk, Enver Bekirov and Muslim Aliyev were left in custody. All of them were detained on suspicion of participating in the organization of Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is considered terrorist in Russia.

Refat Alimov and Arsen Dzhepparov were arrested by security forces on April 18, 2016.

The so-called case of Hizb ut-Tahrir has become a “hallmark” of the Russian Federal Security Service struggle against dissident Muslims in the Crimea. Under the pretext of suspicions in terrorism, calling their repressive actions a fight against extremism, Russian security forces break into homes, carry out massive illegal searches and detentions.